Chili Cauldron Curse - Lynn Cahoon Page 0,21
about the coven, do you? Maybe the dude just had a heart attack?”
“Maybe. But why would it come back on the coven? Is there something else going on besides the power struggle?” She studied Kev closer. The man was sweating even though the warehouse was cool, almost chilly.
“Baldwin always blames everything that happens on our club, as he calls it. He thinks we’re out there killing stray cats and drinking each other’s blood. He doesn’t get that we’re one with nature. We don’t kill animals or people.” Kev glanced at his watch, then around the room. “Look, I’ve got to go do something but I’ll be back before we finish up here. If anyone asks, I’ve run to my apartment.”
“Is that really where you’re going?” Mia didn’t want to be covering up for the guy, especially when he was acting so strange.
“Sure. Of course, it is.” He glanced over at Christina’s group a second time. “Just tell anyone whose looking for me that I’ll be back. They like knowing where I am.”
Weird. But she didn’t press as Kev headed to the door. This is exactly why I don’t join. This one clearly had boundary issues and the members were up in everyone’s business. Thinking about the coven and how Dorian had been a leader in the group, she returned to her working team. This is how she got things done. Divide and conquer. It worked in the kitchens she managed as well as volunteer activities like this. People needed to be kept busy.
As they finished up opening the last of the boxes and sorting them to the areas where they’d be stored, someone tapped on Mia’s shoulder. When she turned around, a young woman, probably Christina’s age, was standing there, looking around. “Can I help you?”
“I was just looking for Kev. He’s my ride.” She looked a little frantic. “Did he leave?”
Mia smiled at the young woman. This was probably what he’d not wanted her to know. That he and the young woman were dating. The guy was a jerk. “He’ll be right back. He needed to run an errand.”
“Did he tell you where he was going?” The girl pressed.
Mia shook her head, trying to calm her down. “Actually, no, but he said he’d be back before we’re done. He probably didn’t want to worry you. Besides, if he’s not here when we’re done for the day, I’ll drive you home.”
“I can get a ride. That’s not the issue. I just want to know where he went.” Her eyes darkened and Mia saw the anger behind the friendly mask.
“And I’m telling you. I don’t know.” Mia felt like there was a battle brewing between them. Like the girl thought she was lying. And then the moment passed.
The young woman shrugged. “No biggie. I’ll just get a ride home with one of my friends. Sorry for bothering you.”
Mia watched as she walked away. And for the second time that day she had the same thought. Weird. Totally weird.
By the time Grans got there with the food, they were close to being done with the food storage system. After lunch, they could do the sweep and clean for Saturday’s event, then Friday would be about the final touches and setting up the system on a rotation basis so Tasha could make sure the food she was giving out stayed good as well as giving out the oldest food first.
After Saturday’s event, Mia planned on spending some time with Grans and Christina and then getting a massage late Sunday before they drove home Monday. She could smell the eucalyptus candle that the masseuse at the Lodge loved.
Mia grabbed sacks of sandwiches out of the back of Mary Alice’s SUV.
“I tried to leave some with Dorian’s children, but his daughter told me that it wasn’t necessary. That they knew how to feed themselves.” Grans blinked in the bright sunlight. “I was just trying to help. Those two are about as prickly as a porcupine.”
“Sorry about that.” Mia watched as her grandmother grabbed the rest of the bags. “Don’t worry about the soda and ice, I’ll send Christina out to get it.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to grow old. To not be able to do as much, or have people think you can’t do anything.” Grans glanced up at Mia. “I don’t mean you, of course.”
Which meant she most definitely meant Mia. “Christina likes to help. She feels like she’s not doing enough, so I like to give her as much support as I can.”
“She is a